Haircare brand Aveda has flipped the switch on its new 900-kW ground-mounted solar array at its headquarters in Blaine, Minnesota. The new array is part of the brand’s vision to be a renewable energy generator.
Aveda’s new solar array is also wildlife friendly, utilizing a diverse mix of more than 26 plants as ground cover to “provide exceptional habitat” according to the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources Habitat-Friendly Solar Scorecard. Aveda is the first hair care brand in North America to include pollinator-friendly ground cover as a requirement in its solar energy purchasing decision.
“We are proud to be able to demonstrate our commitment to sustainability through the use of renewable energy via our new solar array,” said Barbara De Laere, SVP and global general manager at Aveda. “Aveda has pioneered the use of renewable energy since 2006, when we became the first beauty company to manufacture using 100% wind power (through the purchase of energy credits). Now, our new 2,900-panel solar array will power up to 50% of our manufacturing facility’s annual demand for energy, with the remainder powered by wind. With the launch of this array, we are one step closer to our goal of becoming a carbon-positive manufacturer, one of the many sustainability goals we have set for the next decade.”
Aveda’s manufacturing facility produces more than 600 different products which make up approximately 80% of the brand’s total product offering. It is situated on the company’s 58-acre campus in Blaine, Minnesota alongside honeybee colonies, an employee-curated vegetable garden, electric vehicle charging stations and miles of running trails. The land is National Wildlife Federation Certified, and employees enjoy frequent sightings of a variety of wildlife including turkeys, deer, turtles and groundhogs. The main office building has an emphasis on sustainability: it is powered by solar and wind energy, is carpeted with recycled fibers, has composting and recycling bins throughout the building and an organic cafe on the first floor. The company also recently installed energy-saving, LED lighting.
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